Microsoft is "extremely positive" to the market performance of the soon-to-be-launched new operating system Windows 7 in Malaysia, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a Microsoft's senior official.

At a briefing in Kuala Lumpur on the introduction of the new product, Andrew Pickcup, chief marketing officer for Microsoft's Asia Pacific business, said that with the launching of the new Windows 7, Microsoft expects the number of the operating system consumers in Malaysia will double in a decade.

He said that the new operating system will provide consumers with a more simplified, natural and elegant experience in using their computers.

Besides, Windows 7 will allow users to download XP Mode free from the Microsoft website and run XP applications in an emulated XP environment in Windows 7, which could not be realized in Vista, according to a press release issued on the briefing.

A stress test for Windows 7 has so far lured about 2 million participants and about 80 percent of whom have given positive feedback, Andrew noted.

"This will be an exciting technology transition!" said Ryaz Patel, a senior manager with the Intel Malaysia.

An IDC report states that Windows 7 will account for almost 50 percent of Windows operating systems bought by corporations worldwide in 2010, and expects 177 million units to be shipped by the end of 2010. The popularity of the Windows 7 will also drive up employment in the global IT industry, said the report.

Microsoft will make a synchronously global launching for the Windows 7 on October 22 US time with six editions. All Windows users can pay to upgrade timely to the Windows 7 online, said Andrew.